College students in Queens who are interested in dental hygiene need not travel too far for their studies.
After a two-year long process of self-study, program review, and site evaluation, Plaza College is introducing the borough’s first Dental Hygiene program.
Designed to address the increasing need for access to oral healthcare, the program is the first new program in all of New York City in the past 27 years.
“There is a well-documented need for oral healthcare prevention and treatment for patients of all ages, particularly the diverse population in the borough of Queens,” explains Dr. Laura Sleeper, RDH, Dental Hygiene Program Director. “Our program will not only train high-quality hygienists to fill the voids in the workforce, but it will also provide oral healthcare services through student hygienists in our community clinic.”
In conjunction with the program, Plaza College will be opening the Plaza College Community Dental Clinic. The clinic will be open to the public, expanding the community’s access to dental care while allowing for the treatment experiences the student hygienists needed to complete the program and obtain licensure.
Dental Hygiene students will screen patients to determine their oral health status and develop a treatment plan to provide quality care under the supervision of licensed dentists and hygienists.
“The participation of the community members is essential to the success of the students,” said Dr. Burton Wasserman, program consultant and former head of Dental Medicine for NY Presbyterian/Queens. “It’s a no-brainer – a win-win for everyone involved.”
Applications are now being accepted for students to begin the program in September 2017. Interested candidates should contact the Admissions Department at 718-505-4188.
For more information, visit the Plaza College website.
